Potential Buck collony Discovered !?

[Water Badger 26]

I recently gained some permission via my daughter working at some stables, usual phone call “you must get up here there are loads of rats as big as cats!” we all know the drill. So when I had an early day I called Tyler and we headed up there, I arrived early and was introduced to the manager we hopped in his 90 and had a spin up to the location when I arrived I looked down the side of the barn and spotted 20-30 BIG rats just mooching around I could not believe how blatant they were not spooked never scurried off just sat there!! Anyway I acknowledged the problem and said we would be more than happy to help jumped in the motor and headed back down the main farm, Tyler duly arrived and I was jumping up and down with excitement I escorted him up the track and showed him his reaction was similar to mine we returned to the trucks and readied the dogs we has two terriers one whippet and two terrier/whippet crosses with all the commotion a small group had gathered, we had to ensure we did not disappoint!!

Dogs were readied on quick release slips for point and release! We approached the side of the barn and slipped the dogs rats went in all directions some being caught however to our surprise most climbed the trees! I have never seen this before 15-20 rats in trees and proper rats not young ones 5m high hawthorns with ivy in some with these safely kept for future targets we skirted the barn looking for potential hiding places 6 barrels to the rear provided some sport with rats going in all directions when moved, on another section of the barn old lamp columns homed others and movement/banging soon had more bolting, with the primary circuit complete we returned to the trees, the crowd had become excited and were launching sticks stones and other objects to dislodge the rats from the trees (with limited effect) Tyler returned to his van to obtain his air rifle whilst I continued with the catty,

This was sport of a different kind and two hours passed in the blink of an eye with serious sport enjoyed by all, the dogs soon adapted to the aerial quarry marking in the trees and intercepting escaping rats.

The final tally was hard to ascertain due to my whippet (1yr) steeling bodies and taking them into the corn field where he would lose interest!!

 

some rats are hard to dislodge

 

see the blob top of pic in fork ?

thats yours truly

 

I decided to invite blackstaff and his boy up for a repeated visit due to the young man being a good shot with the catty and aerial rats a nice target for any budding catty shooter so we fixed a date and made the visit well numbers were not in the same region by any means (positive feedback had indicated this) however a good time was had by all and some testing shots were achieved and much ammo fired!! Hopefully black staff will add photos ?!

I had promised Heardwick a visit and being strictly a Sunday hunter (something to do with his religious connections) we made yet another visit all was quiet on the perimeter no tree climbing rats so out with the smoker and onto the marks provided by herdwicks terriers the first kill was a youngster the first we have seen so far well we continued the hunt and slowly built a respectable tally of 12 (all bucketed after kill to avoid whippet interference)

My question after talking to Heardwick is why only one small rat, no milky does, all large rats stubby damaged tails scars etc ? Is this a buck colony? How can we find the main breeding colony? I would estimate we have killed in the region of 70-90 rats in the 3 visits not loads but all BIG! (Bar one)

Further details can be filled in by those in attendance

All the best

[herdwick 52]

Thanks for the invite.Enjoyable time was had by all except for the traffic problems on the way there. Cut 14 miles off the return journey by going the way we couldnt go on the way there!

I have never seen a colony of big scabby old bucks like that, with no breeding does and only 1 young grey which couldnt be sexed because my puppy ate it!

Be interested to hear if there are many rats left there, and if any more move in. Plentiful food supply in and around that barn but I wonder whether the breeding herd (? flock? pack?) has an even more plentiful food supply wherever they may hang out. You can always call on me if you find where they are, providing its a sunday

[paulus 26]

seen it a few times after we have smoked holes under hedges they climb up into the hedges

[skycat 6,173]

Great write up: and even better fun I suspect

[stewie 3,387]

good stuff

 

is that a ms210 :hmm:

[Water Badger 26]

good stuff

 

is that a ms210 :hmm:

 

Ms260 from when they were first out 2003!!! has served me well and has been converted by Heardwick so as not to destroy its use as a saw .

[blackstaff 488]

About bloody time you got round to doing the write up !! Thanks for the invite bud, we had a thoroughly enjoyable time and it was an experience to see rats climbing like they did. Until you've seen it words can't really explain it, seeing them running along matchstick thick branches from tree to tree is something else ! Another bonus was 2 birds, 1 of which was has to be one of my best shots ever with an Air Rifle Here's a few pics from our few hours out

 

 

 

 

The rat thieving Whippet !

 

 

 

Here's the link for the full set of pics http://s1106.photobu...mview=slideshow

Edited May 13, 2012 by blackstaff

[billybaltic 308]

Sound's like you all had plenty of fun, shooting them in the tree's must of been great, keep at it.

[artful212 394]

cracking pics lads im sure was a good day

[blackstaff 488]

It was a really good laugh, chasing rats about watching them in the trees scampering around

[maxusman1973 3]

Good day for all dogs and spectators i bet.Had a similar day when i was a lad removing last bit of black sheet off a silage pit 100's of em running everywhere,we had dogs, sticks and forks!Must be 25 years ago but i still remember it like it was yesterday.It was class

[showmespeed 36]

Fun pics and story. Thanks for the share! Never seen that many in one spot like thoses there.

[bobcullen79 1,495]

Nice one lads, looks like a good time was had by all. There was a biggie in one of my live catch traps this morning...

[matt32 44]

enjoyed readin this nice one

[tammy123 0]

Hi, thanks for sharing, was great to read!

 

I have a 10month jack Russell x parson terrier bitch. I would love to take her out ratting. All the farms local to me seem to use poison. I go shooting with the local gamekeeper and also have ferrets which I work when I can.

 

Would anyone, or know of anyone who would consider taking me out with them? With or without my dog. I would love o get involved and get some experience from it all.

 

Thanks

 

Jack